Eben Sadie Mixed Case

Eben Sadie started his winemaking career working for Charles Back’s Spice Route-labelled wines before breaking out on his own in 1999. He has acquired a reputation as the most innovative and inspired winemaker in South Africa with his goal to produce an expression of a region or specific site. 

The Old Vine Series (Die Ouwingerdreeks) is the fruition of a project very close to Eben’s heart. These highly sought-after wines are produced in very limited volumes and offer an incredible vinous insight into South Africa’s grape growing and winemaking history. 

Each case contains one bottle of each of below:
2018 Columella, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“The percentage of Syrah decreases every year - it was once 80% and is now closer to 45% - allowing Eben Sadie to play with other Mediterranean grapes, namely Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca. Remarkably well balanced and refined given the heat and dryness of the vintage, this is a scented, floral, nuanced red with red cherry and mulberry fruit, fine tannins and a lift of stony minerality. One of the best ever Columellas. 2023-32. E/span>
98/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Treinspoor (Tinta Barocca), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“The greatest grape for the Swartland," says Eben Sadie of Tinta Barocca, unconcerned that no one seems to agree with him. Treinspoor can be hard to like in its youth, but not in 2019. Yes, it has grunt and density, but it's also savoury, aromatic and perfumed, like a cross between a Nebbiolo and northern Rhône Syrah, all tar, liquorice, blackberry, charcuterie and racy, refreshing acidity. 2023-35. E/span>
96/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Pofadder (Cinsault), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Picked slightly riper than usual in 2019, Pofadder also benefited from a decent crop compared with some of the Old Vine Series parcels. Plusher and darker than the 2018 was at this stage, with more grip and flavours of bramble and black cherry, this is a serious, sinewy Cinsault with a nip of tannins. "A small dog that bites you," says Eben Sadie. 2023-29. E/span>
94/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2018 Palladius, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Space prevents me from listing all of them, but this remarkable Swartland white is made from 11 different varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Verdelho, Palomino, Marsanne and Roussanne, spread across 17 different sites. Peach, pear and lime flavours are beautifully melded on this more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts white, with gentle oak spice and a thread of acidity that runs through the wine like a cool underground stream. 2022-29. E/span>
97/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Skurfberg (Chenin Blanc), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“A one-hundred-point white? From South Africa? I can almost hear the tutting and clucking from here. But I defy anyone to taste this monumental wine, preferably among a line-up of other, world-class wines and resist its charms. The crop was down 60%, resulting in an old-vine Chenin of mind-blowing focus, depth and concentration. Quince, lemon and subtle Asian spices segue into a palate of nuances, corners, light and shade and dark. Well done, Eben Sadie. Well done, the van Lill family, who grow the grapes. Well done, South Africa. 2023-31. E/span>
100/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Skerpioen (Chenin Blanc and Palomino), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Skerpioen is quite a place: a wind-swept, seashore vineyard with sand and limestone soils that makes one of the Cape's most distinctive whites. Produced from co-planted Chenin and Palomino, it's wonderfully yeasty, pithy and saline with mouth-watering freshness and notes of kelp and fresh bread. 2022-29. E/span>
96/100. Tim Atkin MW